Registering a business in Wales follows the same UK-wide framework as England — through HMRC if you’re operating as a sole trader, or through Companies House if you’re forming a limited company — with Business Wales offering region-specific support alongside the standard national process. Which path you take depends entirely on the business structure you choose, so it’s worth understanding both before you start.
Choose Your Business Structure First
Before registering anything, decide how your business will legally operate. The three most common structures are:
- Sole trader: The simplest structure, where you and the business aren’t legally separate — you keep after-tax profits, but you’re also personally responsible for all business debts
- Limited company: A structure where the business becomes its own legal entity, separate from you personally, offering limited liability protection but with more ongoing filing obligations
- Partnership: Similar to a sole trader structure but shared between two or more people running the business together
Most people working alone — freelancers, consultants, self-employed tradespeople — start as sole traders, since it’s the lowest-maintenance option and doesn’t require registering with Companies House at all.
Registering as a Sole Trader
If you’re operating as a sole trader, registration happens through HMRC rather than Companies House, and it’s free. The process is done online through the GOV.UK website:
- Create a Government Gateway account, HMRC’s portal for managing your tax affairs
- Register for Self Assessment, selecting the option for working for yourself
- Provide your personal details, including your National Insurance number, business start date, and the nature of your trade
- Submit your trading name — this can simply be your own name if you don’t need a separate business name
Once submitted, HMRC will confirm your registration and mail your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number, typically within 10 to 15 working days.
Timing matters here. You need to register by 5 October following the end of the tax year in which you started trading, to avoid penalties. If your self-employment income stays under £1,000 for the tax year, you fall under the trading allowance and don’t need to register or file a Self Assessment return for that income at all.
Registering a Limited Company Through Companies House
If you’re forming a limited company in Wales, you’ll register with Companies House under the Companies Act 2006, the law governing company formation across England and Wales. Before you begin, gather the following:
- A unique company name — checked against the Companies House name availability database, and avoiding restricted words like “Royal,” “British,” or “Authority” without special permission
- A registered office address — a physical address within England or Wales specifically, since Companies House registration is jurisdiction-specific
- Details of your directors and shareholders
Registering online typically costs £12, and in most cases you can register for Corporation Tax at the same time. The process itself is fast — most companies are registered within an hour, and you can receive your certificate of incorporation the same day. Once approved, your company receives a Company Registration Number (CRN), confirming its legal incorporation, and you’ll need to separately notify HMRC for tax purposes as well.
Legally, You Can’t Trade as a Company Before Incorporation
It’s worth being clear on this point: a limited company cannot legally trade, sign contracts, or open a business bank account until Companies House has completed incorporation. If you’re planning to operate as a limited company from day one, factor that processing step into your launch timeline rather than assuming you can start operating immediately.
Local Support Through Business Wales
Alongside the standard UK-wide registration process, Business Wales offers Wales-specific guidance and support for people starting a business in the region, covering everything from choosing a structure to accessing local funding and advice services. It’s a useful supplementary resource if you want region-specific context beyond the national HMRC and Companies House processes.
Official Contacts
HMRC – Register as Self-Employed / Sole Trader
Website: gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader
Companies House – Register a Limited Company
Website: gov.uk/limited-company-formation
Business Wales
Website: businesswales.gov.wales
Join The Discussion
Have you registered a business in Wales recently, whether as a sole trader or a limited company? Share how the process went for you, how long it took to get your UTR or Company Registration Number, or any tips for using Business Wales’ local support services. If you’re just getting started, feel free to ask questions — there’s a good chance someone here has been through exactly the process you’re navigating.
